I was in the courtroom for the procedings on Monday. It was like an episode of "The Twilight Zone", or at least, a really bad "Matlock" episode. Both defendants were tried simultaneously, but there were two juries. One for each defendant. Each defendant was represented by separate counsel.

In the morning, CSI reported out on the forensics. They were able to match DNA to place Emmanuel Williams, the 13 yr old, in the car. Since both defendants were involved in wiping the car down when they ditched it, there were no useable prints. Earl Rodgers, the 17 yr old who did the shooting, figured since there was no DNA linking him to the car or the crime scene, he would take the stand. His attorney protested vigorously. Williams' attorney even tried to advise him not to, until the judge threatened to report him to the bar if he continued to interfere with another attorney's client.

First, the defense had Rodgers' ex-girlfriend ("one of my females" as Rodgers later described her during his testimony) take the stand. She said Rodgers was at her house from 3:30 - 4:30. The shooting happened at about 4:00. She said at 4:00, Rodgers went into her house to take a shower. Then his sister, who lived down the street from the girlfriend, said she saw him in front of the girlfriend's house the entire time from 3:30 to 4:30. No mention of him going in for a shower at 4:00. Then he got on the stand and said he was with three friends in a car in front of her house. Naturally, the prosecutor asked why he'd signed each page of a 6-page confession if, as his new story went, he wasn't even there. He explained that although it was his name, it wasn't his signature and that furthermore, he could not have read the confession that the police sargeant "made up" because he can't read. He was truly proud of that fact. It was sad. The prosecutor introduced evidence later that afternoon and on Tuesday that proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he'd recited, read, and signed the confession.

Thankfully this is all over. The epilogue will be when Williams, who is now 14, is sentenced. He was tried and convicted as an adult, but can be sentenced as a juvenile, as an adult, or given a blended sentence. Depending on how they treat his status he could be incarcerated until he's 21 or, if treated purely as an adult, he too could get life. Personally, I'd favor a blended sentence with a critical assessment at 21 to determine if he can be rehabilitated or should then enter the adult penal system.

Dude, that sounds really wild. Is this what our world is coming to? In a church, for cryin' out loud? Thank God for our system of justice, such as it is. If the best we can do is put those people away, then so be it. Personally I'd prefer stocks and public flogging, but maybe this way it'll give those people some time to think about what they've done. I can only hope that time will help them reflect on their actions. I'm happy that some justice seems to have been achieved, people like that are on a "way" wrong path. Thanks for sharing that with us, I hadn't seen your earlier post about this. Best wishes to you and you friends.

When you first posted it i was trying to figure out what kind of thing could do that... then i kinda understood then when you said that he was proud that he couldnt real... i know the type...

embellisher said:

It doesn't bring him back, but at least family and friends have the comfort of knowing that the crime is not going unpunished.

If the 17 year old does get life, under Michigan law, how long before he is eligble for parole?

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Personally... even though a lot of people say that its comfort thing i think of it more of safty... I really dont want to see "thing" who does such thing out... ever... but more important i dont want to see him out because some other dumb kids will go "oh so even if i dont get away with murder i will go to jail only for 4 years? crap i might as well do it"

And its not 100% for safty of others... its for safty of that dumb kid with hope that he will get smarter and acctually do something out of his life simply because he doesnt want to go to jail for life...

In a twisted sort of way, some good has come of this. The 17 year old had been in and out of juvenile detention facilities since the age of 12. That was just for the crimes he was caught and convicted of. By his own admission in court there were many others that he was never accused of and many where he was accused and walked. The 13 year old was following him down that same path. Try to imagine the amount of damage that these two could have caused had they gone unchecked. Try to imagine the amount of influence they would have had on other generations of kids following them. I believe that at least in this case, we cut the weed at the root and saved multiple other families unimaginable grief.

In a twisted sort of way, some good has come of this. The 17 year old had been in and out of juvenile detention facilities since the age of 12. That was just for the crimes he was caught and convicted of. By his own admission in court there were many others that he was never accused of and many where he was accused and walked. The 13 year old was following him down that same path. Try to imagine the amount of damage that these two could have caused had they gone unchecked. Try to imagine the amount of influence they would have had on other generations of kids following them. I believe that at least in this case, we cut the weed at the root and saved multiple other families unimaginable grief.